Welcome to the Behind the Shield podcast. As always, my name's James Gearing, and this week it is my

absolute honor to welcome on the show, helicopter pilot and the founder of Helicopters Without

Borders, Owen McClung Sitnam. Now, in this conversation, we discuss a host of topics, from his

journey into aviation, fighting wildland fires, EMS, responding to underserved indigenous populations,

some notable rescues, moral injury, positive tribalism, and so much more. Now before we get to

this incredible conversation, as I say every week, please just take a moment.

Go to whichever app you listen to this on, subscribe to the show, leave feedback and leave

a rating. Every single five-star rating truly does elevate this podcast, therefore making

it easier for others to find. And this is a free library of over 1,200 episodes now.

So all I ask in return is that you help share these incredible men and women's stories

so I can get them to every single person on planet Earth who needs to hear them.

So with that being said, I

introduced to you Owen McClung to start by saying two things.

Firstly, thank you to our mutual friend, Dave Peshire, Best, for making this introduction.

And secondly, I want to welcome you onto the Behind the Shield podcast today.

Yeah, thanks for having me, Jane.

I'm excited to be here.

So where on planet Earth be finding you this afternoon?

You know, so I've been born and raised in British Columbia.

Here, I have the pleasure sitting on the unseated in traditional territories,

the Muscoim, Slewetooth, and Squamish families, otherwise known as Vancouver.

I grew up over on a little island off the coast called Bowen Island and been, uh, living here

...